Jonathan Scott Smith Criminal Defense Firm

Criminal Defense in Columbia, Ellicott City, and Howard County, MD

Being charged with a crime is serious. Your reputation, your finances and even your freedom may be at stake. So if you have been charged with a crime in Maryland, your first question may well be: “Which criminal defense lawyer should I retain?”

The first question you need to ask yourself is whether to retain a local criminal defense attorney, or whether you want to bring in a criminal defense attorney from out of town. The reference to “local criminal defense attorney” refers to someone with actual experience in the courtroom where you will be facing trial. Retaining a local criminal defense lawyer has some distinct advantages.

Here are the top five reasons why you should consider retaining the services of a local lawyer:

Reason #1: You should hire a local Maryland criminal defense attorney to defend you against criminal charges because each court has their local rules and customs that an out-of-town attorney may not be familiar with and may inadvertently jeopardize your defense.

Reason #2: You should hire a local attorney to defend you against criminal charges because a local attorney will likely have an established relationship with the court, and have earned a reputation for trustworthiness and ethical representation, which can help provide you with an excellent defense.

Reason #3: You should hire a local attorney to defend you against criminal charges because an attorney who is familiar with the tendencies of a judge and a court will be in a better position to evaluate your defense and properly advise you regarding taking the stand.

Reason #4: You should hire a local attorney to defend you against criminal charges because your attorney would be from the same area as the prosecuting attorney, and therefore in a better position to convey your side of the case more effectively and determine whether a favorable plea agreement can be reached.

Reason #5: You should hire a local attorney to defend you against criminal charges because if your case goes to trial, a jury of your peers will be selected, and a local lawyer may be in a better position to understand and communicate with those jurors than an attorney from out-of-town.

Of course, these reasons are all premised on having a local attorney who has experience, integrity and the proper attitude and caring to provide you with excellent representation and service.

Howard County, Columbia, and Ellicott City Criminal Lawyer

Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith is a top rated former criminal prosecutor, with over 30 years of courtroom experience in numerous criminal courts throughout the Baltimore area, including Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Prince Georges (Prince George) County, Howard County and Montgomery County. He has handled thousands of criminal defense cases, and chances are excellent he has tried cases in the same courtroom, with the same judge, and knows the prosecuting attorney who will be handling your case. You can see what many satisfied clients have to say about the job he did for them. In addition, you can check the results in real cases he has handled.

Highly Rated Howard County Criminal Lawyer

Mr. Smith’s extensive trial experience — and track record of successful results in domestic violence, domestic assault, and other criminal cases — has earned him the recognition of the legal community, with an AV® Preeminent™* Peer Review Rating in the Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating process, and a 10.0 Superb AVVO rating. These are the highest ratings possible for legal skill, ethical practice, lawyer’s years in practice, disciplinary history, professional achievements and industry recognition. Attorney Smith is considered to be one of the best criminal defense attorneys in Howard County.

Contact Our Office

To schedule an appointment, contact us online or call us at 410-740-0101. Put the skill and experience of a former prosecutor to work for you. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Criminal Defense in Columbia, Ellicott City, and Howard County, MD

If you have been charged with a serious crime in Maryland, your best bet may be to retain former prosecuting attorney as your criminal defense lawyer. A former prosecuting attorney has several distinct advantages in defending you against criminal charges:

Advantage #1: A former Maryland prosecuting attorney has the background and experience to understand how a prosecutor will likely approach your case. As a former prosecuting attorney, your defense lawyer can look at the evidence from both points of view and see the strengths and weaknesses in your case from the prosecutor’s perspective.

Advantage #2: Retaining a former Maryland prosecuting attorney as your criminal defense lawyer means you will be represented by someone who not only has criminal law experience and understands criminal procedure, but likely you will be defended by someone who has earned the respect of the courts and the judges.

Advantage #3: By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your case from a prosecutor’s point of view, a former Maryland prosecuting attorney as your criminal defense lawyer will be in a better position to negotiate a favorable plea agreement, or render excellent advice regarding any plea offer provided by the prosecutor.

Advantage #4: Prosecutors understand that criminal defense lawyers who were former prosecutors will make the prosecuting attorney dot their i’s and cross their t’s. They will have to put in many extra hours, which may be difficult for overworked staff, especially with government cutbacks. This means they may be more inclined to make a deal, and you may have a greater likelihood of a more favorable plea offer.

Advantage #5: As a former prosecuting attorney, your criminal defense lawyer will have likely tried hundreds of cases in front of most judges in the area. This means they will have an understanding of what the judge expects and how the judge is likely to rule on the admission of certain evidence, as well as any peculiarities the judge may have regarding courtroom decorum. This may make it easier and less expensive to fashion a strong defense.

Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith is a top rated former criminal prosecutor, with over 30 years of courtroom experience in numerous criminal courts throughout the Baltimore area, including Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Prince Georges (Prince George) County, Howard County and Montgomery County. He has handled thousands of criminal defense cases, and chances are excellent he has tried cases in the same courtroom, with the same judge, and knows the prosecuting attorney who will be handling your case. You can see what many satisfied clients have to say about the job he did for them. In addition, you can check the results in real cases he has handled.

Contact Our Office

To schedule an appointment, contact us online or call us at 410-740-0101. Put the skill and experience of a former prosecutor to work for you. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Drug Charge Defense in Columbia, Ellicott City, and Howard County, MD

Drug dealing is not only a crime, it is a dangerous business. According to the Baltimore Sun, a man and a woman were indicted by a Howard County jury for shooting a man after an alleged drug deal went bad. Although the motivation for the shooting is not yet known, police have indicated that drugs, specifically large quantities of marijuana, were involved.

Eric Brandon Miller and Zehra Senel Oztas were allegedly involved in a drug deal with a Columbia man named Lee. Police believe Lee was wounded during a drug deal where he was trying to sell a substantial quantity of marijuana to Miller and Oztas. The man and woman accused of the shooting are facing charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, first-degree assault and use of a handgun for a felony or violent crime, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Drug dealing is not only a crime, but dangerous. If you are charged with dealing drugs in Maryland, including:

Marijuana

Crack Cocaine

Heroin

Methamphetamines (Meth)

Club drugs (e.g., X, ecstasy)

Prescription narcotics

Other drug related charges

You should seek counsel from an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney.

Contact Our Office

To schedule an appointment, contact us online or call us at 410-740-0101. Put the skill and experience of a former prosecutor to work for you. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

DWI and DUI Defense in Columbia, Ellicott City, and Howard County, MD

While DUI and DWI are synonymous in most states, that is not the case in Maryland, which does draw a distinction between Driving While Impaired (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI). You will be charged with a DWI if your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is .07 percent; and you will be charged with a DUI if your BAC is .08 percent or higher. Although both Maryland DWI and Maryland DUI carry stiff penalties for a conviction, the conviction of a DUI carries more harsh penalties.

The following are the parameters of the penalties if you are convicted of a DWI in Maryland:

DWI First Arrest Conviction

Up to 2 months in jail (6 months if transporting a minor)

Up to $500 fine ($1000 if transporting a minor)

Minimum 6 months suspended drivers license

DWI Second Arrest Conviction

Up to 1 year in jail

Up to $500 fine ($2000 if transporting a minor)

Minimum 1 year suspended drivers license

The following are the parameters of the penalties if you are convicted of a DUI in Maryland:

DUI and DWI charges are serious in Maryland. If is important to retain a skilled criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after being charged with a DUI or DWI, or other alcohol or drug related charge, in Maryland

Contact Our Office

To schedule an appointment, contact us online or call us at 410-740-0101. Put the skill and experience of a former prosecutor to work for you. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

DWI and DUI Defense in Columbia, Ellicott City, and Howard County, MD

While Driving While Impaired (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) are crimes in Baltimore, and throughout Maryland, drinking and walking is not. However, recent events demonstrate that you must always be careful if you go out drinking, and it is best to have a designated driver or cab fare.

In December of 2011, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on Route 924. The pedestrian was only 23 years old and his death marked the 23rd highway fatality in Harford County in 2011. The pedestrian who was killed was suspected of being drunk and walking in the driving lane of the highway.

One common mistake many pedestrians make is they think because they can see cars and other motor vehicles clearly, that the oncoming vehicles can see them just as clearly. For those who drive, we know that is not the case. If you are walking or bicycling along a road or highway, you should wear bright clothing, reflective clothing if possible, so drivers can see you more easily.

If you go out drinking, be careful and appoint a designated driver, or at least think ahead and make taxi arrangements. If you do drive, remember, DUI and DWI charges are serious in Maryland.

If you are charged with drunk driving, it is important to retain a skilled criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after being charged with a DUI or DWI, or other alcohol or drug related charge, in Maryland.

Contact Our Office

To schedule an appointment, contact us online or call us at 410-740-0101. Put the skill and experience of a former prosecutor to work for you. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.